GROWING UP CAN BE TOUGH --- FOR ANY KID. BUT --- FOR ONE WHO'S LOST A LIMB OR WAS BORN WITHOUT ONE --- THINGS CAN BE -- EVEN áMORE CHALLENGING. TONIGHT AN ELKHORN TEEN OPENS UP .. TELLING US ABOUT THE CAMP THAT IT SENDS A UNIVERSAL MESSAGE - THAT WE NEED TO EMBRACE - WHO WE ARE. KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S MOLLY MILES HAS THE STORY ALL NEW AT TEN. (Gigi Jensen/kaylin's Mom)nats You can see at the knee where that blood clot was and that leg is just starting to die. BORN PREMATURE AT LESS THAN TWO POUNDS, KAYLIN JENSEN IS NO STRANGER TO STRUGGLE. (kaylin jensen/13-year-old)The had to cut off my leg to save me. AT 10 DAYS OLD, HER LEG WAS AMPUTATED ...SO HAVING A PROSTHETIC LEG IS ALL SHE HAS REALLY EVER KNOWN, BUT AS SHE GREW OLDER, SHE GREW SELF CONCIOUS.(gigi) robot leg is what kids tend to call it didn't want people to see my leg, I always used to hide (gigi) She didn't even spend the night at her grandmothers, her friends, because she never wanted to take her leg off, she always wanted to be just like everybody else. BUT ALL OF THAT CHANGED WHEN SHE WENT TO THE AMPUTEE COALITION'S PADDY ROSSBACH YOUTH CAMP, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SUMMER CAMP BUT ALL OF THE KIDS ARE AMPUTEES.NATS (pointing at picture) She has above-the-knee, TJ has an arm, my counselor has a computer chip knee, above-the-knee THIS WEEK SHE GOT BACK FROM HER SECOND YEAR AT THE OHIO CAMP.(kaylin) I like camp so much I kind of want to be a counselor HER MOM SAYS NOW SHE DOESN'T JUST WEAR HER LEG, SHE ROCKS IT.(gigi)It's not being worried about people part of her she excepts that it's a part of her AND THAT GIRL THAT COULDN'T TAKE OFF HER LEG IN FRONT OF FAMILY OR FRIENDS...SHE DIDN'T EVEN THINK TWICE ABOUT TAKING IT OFF IN FRONT OF A STRANGER WITH A CAMERA.(kaylin) I don't care if people stare anymore...I'm unique.IN ELKHORN, MOLLY MILES, KETV NEWSWATCH 7 THERE IS NO COST TO CAMPER'S FAMILIES. THEY'RE EVEN REIMBURSED FOR TRAVEL TO FROM DONATIONS -- TO THE AMPUTEE COALITION.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use. KETV NewsWatch 7 offers readers the ability to comment on stories with the understanding that these comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or used on KETV NewsWatch 7 newscasts. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, comments that don't relate to the story and any personal remarks. THIS IS IMPORTANT: KETV NewsWatch 7 does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not, at times, find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in this area. If you find a comment that is objectionable or offensive, click the flag that appears in the upper right corner when you hover over a comment. Flagged comments may be automatically hidden from comment threads. For comments to appear on the website and/or the mobile app, email addresses must be verified through Disqus. We ask the community to monitor this forum with the knowledge that KETV NewsWatch 7 does not regularly monitor these comments.